The 10 Best Canadian DJs of All Time

Canada’s electronic music scene has thrived since the technology first emerged, and many artists in the DJ community have significantly impacted the genre.

The best Canadian DJs embody this connection to the art form, headlining international music festivals while pioneering studio production.

Read on for a breakdown of the best Canadian DJs and how they’ve helped define house, EDM, and other electronic music genres today.

The 10 Best Canadian DJs Of All Time, Ranked For 2025

Whether you’re a fan of hard-hitting techno or prefer mainstream EDM, Canadian DJs have played a crucial role in popularizing dance music.

Let’s explore the DJing and production careers of the key players who have emerged from Canada.

10. Nick Holder

Residencies: The Boa, Toronto

DJ Style: Hip-hop, House, Deep House

Best Known For: Underground hit single “Da Sambafrique”

One of the longest-standing Canadian DJs is Nick Holder, whose career began during the 1980s at the height of the Detroit techno scene.

Holder’s impressive discography, through his distinct minimalist style, reflects his passion for the early pioneers of house and techno music.

Holder has influenced Canadian DJs by drawing inspiration from Detroit techno’s leading figures, including Carl Craig and Derrick May.

As a music producer, Holder’s effortless blend of classic house and techno with disco refrains and hip-hop has led to critical acclaim.

With multiple studio albums to his name, singles such as “Da Sambafrique” helped catapult him into cult status and reach a global audience.

Over the years, he’s performed many acclaimed Boiler Room sets that showcase his mixing abilities, including “Into The Deep” in Paris.

A prolific producer, Holder’s releases on established labels such as Studio !K7 and NRK Recordings enjoy playtime among house and techno DJs.

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9. ATTLAS

Residencies: Pacha Toronto/The Hoxton, Toronto

DJ Style: Progressive house, Ambient, Synth-Wave

Best Known For: “We Are Friends” album series

The DJ and producer ATTLAS was raised in a musical environment that exposed him to jazz, classical, rock, and hip-hop music.

This eclectic music selection is evident in his early career, which draws on various electronic music genres to forge a distinct identity.

After listening to music by fellow Canadian Deadmau5, ATTLAS worked briefly on movie scores before transitioning to dance music production.

During the mid-2010s, he released a selection of original tracks and remixes that established his reputation for high-quality production values.

Releasing music alongside other mau5trap label artists, his 2016 EP “Bloom” was his first to chart in America, reaching 20 on the Dance charts.

ATTLAS has performed at renowned venues and events, touring alongside artists such as Alison Wonderland and Zed’s Dead.

In 2017, he performed alongside Deadmau5 on the latter’s BBC Radio 1 residency mix, playing his single “What You Do To Me.”

8. A-Trak

Residencies: The Wynn/XS Nightclub, Las Vegas

DJ Style: Hip-hop, Electro House

Best Known For: Three major scratch DJ competition wins

Alain Macklovitch, better known as A-Trak, rose to prominence during the early 2000s through his unique scratching techniques and technical skills.

Born in Montreal, he broke onto the hip-hop scene in 1997 when he won the DMC World DJ Championship at the age of 15.

This victory laid the foundation for a lengthy and award-winning career that has seen him collaborate with significant stars like Kanye West and The Chainsmokers.

As a champion scratch DJ, A-Trak has extensive performance credits and an equally impressive career as a touring DJ.

His work with Kanye West brought him mainstream attention, and he appeared in MTV specials and the Grammy Awards in 2004.

This success led to live shows at major international music festivals, where his incorporation of turntables set him apart from his contemporaries.

He continues to produce music, partnering with The Blessed Madonna in 2024 on her debut album, Godspeed, with Kylie Minogue.

7. D. Tiffany

Residencies: The Fox Cabaret, Vancouver

DJ Style: House, Ambient, Funk

Best Known For: Underground label “Planet Euphorique”

Sophie Sweetland, better known as D. Tiffany, was raised in British Columbia and moved to Vancouver in 2014.

Here, she teamed up with 1080p record label for her debut self-titled album, marking the beginning of her career as a producer.

A leading figure in Canada’s underground dance music scene, D. Tiffany’s driving house music delivers her distinct style.

She frequently collaborated with Roza Terenzi with her 2022 album with Terenzi, Edge of Innocence, became an instant classic among underground fans.

In recent years, the duo has given numerous back-to-back DJ performances, receiving praise from outlets such as Pitchfork and Resident Advisor.

D. Tiffany’s musical style has continued to evolve, incorporating elements of the underground rave scene with contemporary deep house.

This dancefloor-ready sensibility runs through her discography, with Tiffany releasing tracks through her Planet Euphorique record label.

D. Tiffany continues to promote other Canadian DJs through her label and live collaborations with Terenzi in Canada and worldwide.

6. Ciel

Residencies: The Drake Hotel/Bambi’s, Toronto

DJ Style: Electro, House

Best Known For: Women’s advocacy

Cindy Li began her professional career as a radio DJ, hosting a show for the Ontario-based station CFRC-FM and promoting women artists.

After exploring shoegaze and post-punk while promoting women artists through the Work In Progress initiative, Li branched out into electronic music.

Before long, Li had adopted the professional name Ciel and established herself as one of her generation’s best electronic music producers.

Ciel’s debut release, 2017’s Electrical Encounters, demonstrated a distinct style that fused fast-paced beats and rich, tonal basslines.

The following year, Ciel captured the attention of music critics with her atmospheric and idiosyncratic Radio Buttons #20 mix.

Ciel has continued to support women in the dance music scene, along with collaborations with artists like D. Tiffany on the Planet Euphorique label.

In 2021, she debuted her live PA system at MUTEK in Montreal, the funding from which contributed to the award-winning debut album, Homesick.

Ciel tours the United States and Europe extensively, promoting grassroots talent and refining her production techniques.

5. Tiga

Residencies: Pacha, Ibiza/Zouk, Singapore

DJ Style: House, Electro, Hip-Hop

Best Known For: Bringing avant-garde to dance music

Tiga’s musical style and sensibilities span multiple genres, reflected in his original tracks and remixes for LCD Soundsystem, The XX, and other artists.

Following his upbringing by hippie parents in Goa, India, Tiga settled in Montreal and began DJing at parties and street promotions.

Before long, his reputation as one of the leading DJs on the scene expanded into music production, and he invested in the DNA record label.

By the early 2000s, Tiga’s ascendance in the industry was secured with the release of “Sunglasses at Night,” which reached number two on the UK Dance Charts.

An instant hit on the dance floor, “Sunglasses at Night” showcased Tiga’s broad appeal, blending commercial melodies with underground production values.

In the following years, Tiga became a regular fixture at prestigious venues and international festivals while also tirelessly working in the studio.

He produced many original tracks, and his discography includes a list of remixes that surpass that of many of his contemporaries.

Artists including The Killers, The Prodigy, Iggy Azalea, and Depeche Mode have all received the remix treatment for dancefloor-friendly versions.

The DJ and producer revealed his secrets of being a club DJ in 2016 and how his passion for music keeps him motivated.

Related reading: The 10 best clubs in the world of all time.

4. Kaytranada

Residencies: Le Belmont, Montreal/The Drake Hotel, Toronto

DJ Style: House, Deep House, R&B

Best Known For: Gay community advocacy

Louis Kevin Celestin, better known as Kaytranada, is a relatively late starter for the most noteworthy Canadian DJs ever.

In 2010, he began his career under the moniker Kaytradamus and began performing under the umbrella of HW&W Recordings in Los Angeles and Toronto. He later adopted the name Kaytranada in 2012.

In 2014, Kaytranada’s slick production and diverse influences impressed XL Recordings, and his status escalated after he opened for Madonna the following year.

With his newfound attention, Kaytranada continued to make waves in the dance music scene, earning acclaim for his lush production and songwriting skills.

His career accomplishments include the Best Dance/Electronic Album award at the Grammy Awards 2021.

Following high-profile releases in collaboration with Pharrell Williams and Childish Gambino, Kaytranada dominated the stage at Coachella in 2023.

Frequently ranked among the best gay DJs, his combination of club-oriented production and pop-friendly collaborations makes him a unique artist.

3. DVBBS

Residencies: Omnia Nightclub, Las Vegas

DJ Style: EDM, Dance-Pop, House

Best Known For: Global hit track “Tsunami”

Electronic music production and DJing duo DVBBS hit the scene in 2012 with the launch of their debut EP, Initio.

It demonstrated their idiosyncratic combination of styles, including dubstep, reggae, and house, and it was quickly followed by the single “Tsunami.”

Their first chart-topping single launched DVBBS into the international spotlight, selling platinum and dominating nightclubs.

Redefining how house music could be made, “Tsunami” paved the way for a string of singles and EPs that reflected their evolving style.

The duo collaborated with notable EDM producers and DJs, such as Martin Garrix, and released dozens of tracks over the following years.

In the 2010s, they received numerous Juno Award nominations, and their live performances garnered acclaim from fans.

Behind the decks, DVBBS are known for their energetic track selection, with an extensive list of over 750 shows in five years.

Major venues, including Ultra Music Festival, Creamfields, and Tomorrowland, have all hosted the act on their main stages.

DVBBS has continued to push boundaries in the studio, reworking the classic Diana Ross song “Upside Down” in collaboration with Bad Nonno.

2. Richie Hawtin

Residencies: Space/Enter, Ibiza

DJ Style: Techno, minimal techno

Best Known For: Pioneering 1990s minimal techno

Anyone with a passing interest in techno music will likely be familiar with Richie Hawtin, one of the genre’s most iconic and influential figures.

Hawtin’s career began in the early days of techno, beginning with his DJ gigs in clubs during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Pioneering the burgeoning minimal techno style, he would join producers and DJs, including Jeff Mills, Carl Craig, and Robert Hood.

Through his M-nus label, Hawtin released a series of notable tracks that pushed electronic music production hardware to its limits.

At the same time, his reputation as a DJ continued to grow, and he climbed the ranks to become one of the best techno DJs of all time.

Hawtin has performed at many major international nightclubs and festivals, has residencies in Ibiza, and regularly appears in Tokyo’s hottest venues.

A tireless producer with over a dozen albums in his discography, Hawtin has also released many mixes for Mixmag and DE9.

Since 1999, Richie Hawtin has picked up three wins for Best Techno DJ at the DJ Awards, with 17 nominations overall.

1. Deadmau5

Residencies: Hakkasan Nightclub, Las Vegas

DJ Style: EDM, House, Dance

Best Known For: His iconic mouse helmet

One of the most popular EDM music producers and DJs of all time is Deadmau5, a key player in the genre’s sound and global popularity.

Real name Joel Zimmerman, Deadmau5 began producing music early, self-releasing singles during the 2000s.

By the end of that decade, he had broken into the mainstream with his debut album, Random Album Title.

Released in collaboration with Ultra Records and Ministry of Sound, it demonstrated his club-friendly style with broad commercial appeal.

Multiple chart hits followed, combined with sell-out DJ sets and collaborations with various artists.

By the 2020s, Deadmau5 was frequently ranked among the richest DJs in the world, accumulating a significant net worth.

This high-profile status was driven by his on-stage persona and iconic mouse helmet design, which set him apart from more conventional acts.

Deadmau5 continues to produce a large catalog of music while collaborating with big-name artists, such as Kx5 featuring Kaskade in 2023.

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Summary

Canadian DJs have left a significant mark on electronic music, collaborating with international artists and redefining how music can be performed.

The artists highlighted in this article showcase how this talent has impacted the music industry and helped to define popular genres.

With thriving venues in Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, and other cities, Canada’s DJ scene remains a strong force in global electronic music.